Join Ryan Pensy, Brandon Mellor and Scott Kotick as they break down the top college football games in this free Seminoles.com podcast.

The crew previews Florida State at North Carolina, Clemson at Miami as well as making their upset picks of the week.

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Up For The Challenge

‘Noles would like to spoil Carolina’s historic night

Oct. 20, 2009

It seems Florida State faces a different obstacle every game. Thursday night’s nationally-televised game at North Carolina – the first of its kind at Kenan Stadium – is the latest of challenges facing the Seminoles, and that does not even touch on the fact that the Tar Heels boast the nation’s third-ranked defense.

Both the Seminoles (2-4, 0-3 ACC) and Tar Heels (4-2, 0-2) are looking for their first Atlantic Coast Conference victories of the season in this matchup of strength against streak and weakness against weakness.

“It’s a big challenge for us and we have to execute and play as well as we can if we want to be successful,” said Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder, who leads the ACC’s top-rated offense against UNC’s top-rated defense. “It’s a heck of a challenge and it’s something that we can show up and shock the world and make a statement because it’s a Thursday night game and it’s the only game on. So we have an opportunity but a heck of a challenge.”

The game will provide new opportunities for several Seminoles, including sophomore tight end Beau Reliford and sophomore lineback Nigel Carr. They are expected to make their first career starts.

Reliford replaces senior tight end Caz Piurowski, who was one of the top players in the country at his position before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Georgia Tech.

Improving execution is an emphasis every day on the Florida State football practice field, but with the Seminoles working out in shorts and helmets in Monday’s non-contact session, it was the sole focus.

Despite an open week on the schedule leading up to Thursday’s nationally-televised game at North Carolina, the Seminoles could use some fresh legs and sharp minds to open the second half of the season. To that end, Monday’s 2 1/2-hour practice – with a half-dozen NFL scouts in attendance – likely did Bobby Bowden’s team some good.

One day after senior defensive tackle Budd Thacker became the latest casualty on a growing list, the Seminoles maintained a brisk practice pace without collisions. That’s probably a good thing when you consider the team lost senior tight end Caz Piurowski for the season with a knee injury against Georgia Tech and linebacker Maurice Harris with a neck injury.

Thacker, who had strung together two of his best games against Boston College and Georgia Tech, is out indefinitely after suffering a left knee medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain. He sustained the injury – confirmed by an MRI on Monday – during an inside drill on Sunday.

Regardless, Bowden thought the open week, on the heels of a three-game losing streak, was what his team needed.

“I thought it probably worked out about right,” Bowden said. “It should have helped us.”

If nothing else, it gave a number of players the chance to refine skills before be asked to step up and fill playing voids in the wake of recent injuries. Likewise, it gave others like cornerback Patrick Robinson (ankle sprain), defensive tackle Justin Mincey (knee) and rover Jajuan Harley (illness), additional time to mend.

The Seminoles won’t have to wait much longer to find out just how much they improved. Tuesday will mark the final practice of the week and the team will depart Wednesday afternoon for Chapel Hill. It will be the first time any player on FSU’s current roster has played at Kenan Stadium.

“Every game is a new game,” said Bowden, whose team remains in the Atlantic Division mix despite an 0-3 start in league play. “You forget the last one, get your mistakes corrected and get on to the next game.”

Another Work Day

Seminoles Suit Up In Full Pads For Rare Sunday Practice

Oct. 18, 2009

Sunday was actually Tuesday for the Florida State football team, at least in terms of preparation for Thursday night’s Atlantic Coast Conference date at North Carolina.

The Seminoles hit the practice field in full pads Sunday for a 22-period session that drew high marks from the coaching staff.

“It was a pretty lively practice,” Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said, after the ‘Noles wrapped up work on a brisk day. “They were hitting pretty dadgum good.”

Bowden said he hopes to nicked up senior linebacker Dekoda Watson (groin strain) and cornerback Patrick Robinson (ankle sprain) available for a game the Seminoles must have to stay in the wide-open Atlantic Division race. Watson has been limited to non-contact work, while Robinson has been practicing.

Fisher indicated that the Tar Heels’ ACC-leading defense will provide the offense with its toughest test of the season.

“North Carolina is a very physical, tough, football team,” Fisher said. “We’re going to have to match their toughness up front. Their front is very good. We’re going to have to play with a lot of enthusiasm and concentration because one slip-up against those guys and it can be disastrous. Not just a loss. They have the ability to hit you, sack you, cause turnovers.

“They’re No. 5 in the country. Usually teams are fast up front or big up front. They’re both. … They are guys who are going to make a lot of money on Sundays.”

The Seminoles will counter with an offense that has produced at least 400 yards in five of six outings this season and is coming off a season-high 539-yard output against Georgia Tech.

Florida State boasts one of the top offenses in the Atlantic Coast Conference. North Carolina is the runaway league leader on defense. That could lead to yet another close contest Thursday night in Chapel Hill, when the Seminoles try to snap their three-game losing streak.

If the nationally-televised game goes according to the statistical script, special teams play could well determine the outcome, as it has many times in the FSU-UNC series. The Seminoles spent three of 20 periods during Saturday’s practice in cool conditions honing their special teams skills.

“All of our games have been close, so every point is going to count,” said FSU freshman kicker Dustin Hopkins. “I know we’ve gotten some good (practice) work in. Our timing has gotten a lot better since the beginning of the year, so I think we can go in and do the job.”

Hopkins’ play against the Tar Heels is important on multiple fronts. The ACC leader with 12 touchbacks, another solid effort on kickoffs by Hopkins could swing the field position battle in the Seminoles favor. That would be huge since FSU and UNC enter the game ranked last in total defense and total offense, respectively.

Obviously, Hopkins brings a scoring value to the equation, converting seven of 12 field goal attempts including a long of 52 yards. The percentage is comparable to Tar Heels’ kicker Casey Barth, whose longest field goal of the season is just 40 yards.

Senior receiver/return specialist Louis Givens, who is on both the kickoff and kickoff return teams, does not understimate the significance of winning that phase of the game at Kenan Stadium.

There was no let-up by the Florida State football coaching staff Thursday as the Seminoles endured a rigorous, 22-period workout in full pads as a precursor to Friday’s mandated off-day.

Much of the practice session was spent working against scout teams on both sides of the ball in preparation for the Thursday, Oct. 22 date with North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The offense and defense did get together for the final two periods – a 10-minute session – working from the 10-yard line.

Defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews’ unit got the better of the deal, allowing only a pair of scores – a touchdown pass to Rod Owens and a scoring run by tailback Ty Jones. The defense got significant pressure from Jacobbi McDaniel and Brandon Jenkins and was solid against the interior run work.

Senior defensive tackle Justin Mincey received his longest practice exposure since suffering a preseason knee injury, while sophomore linebacker Vincent Williams also continued his comeback from a back ailment that has sidelined him this season. Cornerback Patrick Robinson, who sat out the Georgia Tech game with an ankle sprain, saw limited action in a blue, non-contact jersey. Freshmen cornerback Xavier Rhodes, whose play has been limited to special teams, also received a significant amount of work in the base defense.

With the bulk of the coaching staff headed out of town recruiting on the day off, media access was limited.

The Seminoles will return to the practice field Saturday at 11 a.m. to begin game week preparation for the Tar Heels, and are scheduled to work again Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

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Watch The Tuesday Football Press Conference On All-Access

Mickey Andrews, Jimbo Fisher and Christian Ponder recap the Georgia Tech game and preview North Carolina.

October 13th, 2009

Join Mickey Andrews, Jimbo Fisher and Christian Ponder today at 1:30pm as they talk with the Florida State media about their preparations for the North Carolina game. You can watch the press conference for no charge as it airs live on Seminoles.com All-Access.